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1.) Terror returns to America’s shores — The Boston Marathon is usually a showcase of human endurance and perseverance. On Monday, the event turned into a showcase of villainy — but also humanity in the face of great tragedy. At least three people were killed and over 100 injured during a terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon, but in the aftermath of the attack, Americans rushed to the aid of their fellow man. TheDC’s Vince Coglianese talked to an eyewitness:
“George Scoville was one block away from the Boston Marathon’s finish line, inside the Lord & Taylor department store Monday afternoon when he felt two explosions rock the store within about ’15 to 20 seconds’ of one another. ‘I was actually in a shopping mall right next to the finish line, Lord & Taylor, and heard an explosion and thought it was construction or building demolition,’ the 33-year-old Scoville, a Washington, D.C. resident, told The Daily Caller in a phone interview from Boston Monday. ‘You could feel it. There was a loud boom and then there was a second one that was even louder,’ Scoville continued, explaining that the blasts shook the store. He then made his way for the door as people fled the scene of the nearby blast.”
We don’t know all that much about who perpetrated the attack. In time, we surely will. Let us hold our commentary until then.
2.) A time for a president — In moments like these, Americans pray to God for solace and look to our president for leadership. TheDC’s Neil Munro reports:
“President Barack Obama used the White House press podium Monday evening to reassure Bostonians of national support and to promise that ‘the full weight of justice’ will be applied to the responsible individuals or groups. … ‘We’re continuing to monitor and respond to the situation as it unfolds,’ he said. ‘Michelle and I send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims … all Americans stand with the people of Boston.’ He predicted that the United States would respond to the people who caused Monday’s event. ‘Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice,’ he claimed.”
Justice will come, of that we can be confident. But until then, we must keep calm and carry on.
3.) Politics at an unpolitical time — A New York Times columnist decided to insert politics into the aftermath of the Boston bombing. To his credit, he later apologized. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof responded to the explosions that blasted the Boston Marathon on Monday with an eyebrow-raising comment about Republicans on Capitol Hill. In a tweet during the aftermath of the apparent attacks, Kristof wrote, ‘Explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment.’ … Kristof recanted his comment, calling it a ‘low blow’ after being criticized: ‘People jumping on me for criticizing Sen Repubs for blocking ATF appointments. ok, that was low blow. i take it back,’ he tweeted.”
4.) A political fracture over Margaret Thatcher — A resolution to honor Margaret Thatcher has stalled in the Senate. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is holding up a vote in the U.S. Senate on a resolution honoring Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom who died last week after suffering a stroke, multiple sources tell The Daily Caller. While the House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Thatcher last week, Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, objects to some of the language proposed by Republicans in the Senate’s version, sources said. A copy of the proposed resolution, which would be offered by Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, honors ‘the life, legacy, and example of British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher.’ Another source said Democrats want to ‘black out everything but a few lines acknowledging her service as prime minister.'”
5.) Tweets of Yesterday — Andy Levy: a good way to tell if your boston marathon joke is funny is that nobody who’s actually funny is making boston marathon jokes
6.) Tweets of Yesterday — Charles C. W. Cooke: If you think that the president shouldn’t speak about bombs going off in a major U.S. city, you might want to reconsider your partisanship.
VIDEO: Krauthammer says Boston bombing a reminder of terror threat